Letter from a Birmingham Jail Research Assignment

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Letter from a Birmingham Jail
Martin Luther King Junior’s rise to national prominence as a leader a spokesperson and a civil right leader gave him the opportunity to make a difference in his community. Martin Luther is remembered to have held a peaceful demonstration in Birmingham, Alabama to protest against racial discrimination. People questioned his motive and strategy he used (McGraughy 606). The article presents Martin Luther' response justifying his action in Birmingham.
The letter is an example of non-violent means he used to fight discrimination during this period. Martin Luther King Junior wrote a letter addressing the clergymen, encouraging them not to give up the fight against racial discrimination (McGraughy 606). The letter was also a response to his critics who thought his action was unwise and untimely. In his letter, Martin categorically stated that the non-violent direct action program was necessary and justifiable using several examples (McGraughy 606).
The article presents several reasons why Marin Luther King Junior led the protest in Birmingham using an example of the Apostle Paul, who left Tarsus to spread the word of God in Graeco-roman world. He believed that he was compelled to carry the gospel of freedom like Paul (McGraughy 607). He emphasized that his conscious could not permit him to turn a blind eye to what was going on in Alabama while he was sitting idle in Atlanta. For him any injustice anywhere was a threat to justice everywhere. Whatever affected the African Americans directly, affected other African Americans indirectly (McGraughy 607).
He believed that the white structures in the city of Birmingham left the Negro community with no alternative. The letter highlighted what it entails to conduct a non-violent campaign using the four steps. The first one being collecting facts to determine if injustices existed. Engaging in negotiation with the oppressors to find the solution was the next step, followed by self-purification and lastly is engaging in direct action (McGraughy 607).
The article presents several reasons why the Alabama protest made a big impact. In his letter, Martin stated that he had proved that Birmingham is one of the cities where segregation was practiced. He had engaged in negotiations with leaders who gave empty promises. One of the unfulfilled pro...